Hello all...
Hope all is going well in your individual lives...
I've got a quick tariff/import duties story here - and I "don't" want it to get political - although I realize that for some folks, they can't help but get their political jabs in. I'm aware of how import duties work and the purpose behind these tariffs in the first place, so I'm not going to argue with anyone about the matter.
This experience is being relayed just to make you aware of some shipping organizations and how import duties are collected.
A month ago, I saw an almost new Panny 12-32 zoom lens from a Japanese vendor on eBay. I personally love buying items from Japanese vendors (at least in the past I have) because when they advertise something as mint (or any other condition), that's just the way the item arrives, so you're expectations (for the most part) are met.
Prior to them shipping the lens, the eBay vendor informed me - actually asked me - if I was going to be OK with the import duties that I may be charged when it arrives in the US. I said, "yes I am," since I assumed that perhaps the most I'd be charged is $50 or less. I paid $175 for the lens and realized that, at least temporarily, I would be required to pay a reasonable import duty charge. However, I was naive enough to wrongfully assume that duties were only charged for new imports, not used.
So they shipped the lens via DHL, and when it arrived in the US, I was called with a recorded message, indicating that I had to pay - and now get this - $133 in import duties. I almost passed out when I heard this, and this for a lens that only cost me $175? I was shocked to say the least, as I was prepared to pay reasonable fees, but $133 (almost 3/4 of what the lens cost me) was ridiculous. So I informed DHL to send the lens back to the vendor. I know he wasn't happy, but he was informative saying that depending on where an item is made - i.e. Japan or China - the amounts would be different. Since the 12-32 I ordered was made in China, the largest import duties were assigned (I believe they are 60% or something like that). Talk about a learning experience!!!
Now in another matter, several weeks ago, I also ordered an Olympus (Mint) X-Z1 enthusiast camera. It set me back some $250 and it arrived via Fed Ex. I was stunned to see that no import duties were charged to me at all - not even in the mail after-the-fact. Normally, you are notified up front of the levies, so I found that interesting - and it also was made in China.
Again - don't make this political. I just wanted you to be aware when you order items from eBay, depending on how it's shipped, you could be asked to pay a hefty amount in import duties. As I said, I basically replied to DHL, just send it the "f_ck" back to the vendor. In that case, DHL holds on to the item for 10-12 days before they send it back.
So if you are going to order something off of eBay (electronic like a camera or whatever), check with them as to how they ship the product. It may make a difference.
So just a friendly warning here...
Ben Herrmann
Fuquay-Varina, NC
